Saint Joseph: Why Him?

When younger, I never imagined myself as a husband and dad. All I wanted was to travel—like rugged, vagabond travel— and capture stories of religious minorities in war zones. The thought of settling down and living a white-picket-fence life, to me, was counter to living life to its fullest—it was bland, uninteresting, unremarkable and lacking depth of meaning

When I returned to the Church in college though, life began directing me down the path to family life—a path I did not ask for but welcomed, because I was trying to seek God openly. And, unexpectedly, simply planning my wedding became an interesting experience. Raised in a family where married men had plain, flat, gold rings, that was perfectly normal, beautiful even. My wife, however, pressed me to pour more meaning into it. I thought of the men who profoundly impacted me: my dad, grandpa, mentors, priests, the list went on, even including fictional men like Jonathan Kent, Superman’s father.

Sharing with my wife both the list and an idea to engrave the ring with the first letter of their names, she acknowledged these men’s value in my life but offered St. Joseph as a singular alternative. I was silent. Why him? I thought, “There’s nothing remarkable about him. Nothing inspiring. Nothing that lifts my soul and enkindles the oomph to do what must be done, regardless of how I’m feeling.”

We talked more, and her encouragement prompted me, leading up to our wedding, to start the St. Joseph consecration.

All my life I felt a profound pull toward God the Father, as one standing in awe and feeling content and loved. Yet, I also longed to hold Him and be physically held by Him, and to put a face to the God I loved.

In stepped Joseph, and my life changed forever. In him, I found God the Father speaking to me in a radical, new way. St. Joseph became my constant companion. I saw that, beyond Christ, there is no man more noteworthy, more accomplished in character and virtue, than the savior of the Savior, St. Joseph.

When our daughter was born, she entered life with the umbilical cord around her neck. It was terrifying! Who did I called on for help in that moment? Joseph. And who followed through? Joseph. Our little girl has been an unbelievable gift in our lives. Guess what happens to be her favorite toy? A little stuffed carpenter named Saint “Jojo.”

Since then, whenever I find my family or myself cornered with no escape in sight, Joseph has never let me down. Everything I have is from his intercession, from his Holy Family’s care. What my wife gave me in St. Joseph was the greatest gift I ever received, beyond Baptism and the Eucharist, and my wedding ring now reflects this with one diamond for Jesus and one for Mary, set on either side of a blue sapphire for Joseph.

I didn’t imagine my life would take this turn, but I thank God it has, challenges and all. Through St. Joseph and his Holy Family and through my own wife and family, I found God. I have yet to uncover the depths of meaning and life these people give me, and I doubt I ever fully will.

This article appeared in the March 2024 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine.